Drew Barrymore has opened up about getting plastic surgery at the age of 17 during a TV discussion about breast cancer and how important it is for women to get checked regularly.
The 50-year-old talk show host made the rare mention while talking to actress Valerie Bertinelli, obstetrician and gynaecologist Kameelah Phillips and Inside Edition host Alison Paul, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. The four women discussed the importance of preventative care such as yearly mammograms – and at that point, Drew mentioned the surgery she underwent back in 1992, when she was a teenager.
“What if someone’s had a reduction, like me”? she asked. “What if someone has had implants or enhancements like a lot of people out there? How does any alteration of our bodies also play into the examination process”?
Ms Phillips told the actress that “imaging is really important” while explaining that unsatisfactory mammograms will often result in doctors urging their patients to get an ultrasound to carry out further checks. Drew often discusses about breast cancer with her guests on her show, urging her viewers to take all the necessary precautions and undergo all the key checks.
Cancer Research UK says there are around 56, 800 new breast cancer cases in the UK every year. This is the most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 15 per cent of all new cancer cases. In the US, the American Cancer Society estimates 316, 950 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year.
Drew hasn’t often addressed the breast reduction surgery she underwent 33 years ago publicly. Back in 1998, she told the New York Daily News that she had decided to get surgery because she felt “uncomfortable” and her back hurt. She said: “I really love my body and the way it is right now. There’s something very awkward about women and their breasts because men look at them so much.
” When they’re huge, you become very self-conscious. Your back hurts. You find that whatever you wear, you look heavy in. It’s uncomfortable. “Breast reduction is a major operation that can help make your breasts feel smaller, lighter and give them a different shape.
In the UK, if you decide to undergo the operation to change your appearance, rather than for health reasons, you will need to pay for it privately. According to the NHS, this type of surgery costs around £6, 500, plus the cost of any consultations or follow-up care.
In 2023, Drew told People that she is not interested in getting plastic surgery, mainly because she is worried she will get addicted to it. She shared:” I haven’t done anything, and I’m going to maintain that as long as possible. I have zero judgment for anyone doing anything. But I don’t see myself resorting to it. “
The TV personality added:” I have a highly addictive personality, so I worry I’d continue to chase it, get this and that done. That scares me, just because of my own approach to things. So, I’m waiting on making any alterations. “
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